Peer-to-Peer Video: The Economics, Policy, and Culture of Today's New Mass Medium

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) networks allow individuals to share digital content files in real time. They facilitate communication and promote community without hierarchy or strict control. This book applies economic principles to analyze and understand the P2P phenomenon. It also provides numerous contemporary examples from the US and around the world to shed light on the implications of P2P as a mass medium, considering such issues as pricing, licensing, security, and regulation.